To support projects aimed at developing a science-based, multi-dimensional approach that will allow for the maintenance or improvement of environmental quality while at the same time allowing for economic growth.

Types of Assistance (060):

PROJECT GRANTS

Uses and Use Restrictions (070):

Funds provided under this program may be used in the following areas: The Office for Coastal Management’s (OCM) goal is to build leadership skills and capabilities to meet the changing needs within the coastal community. OCM manages the Regional Ocean Partnerships (ROP) funding program, which is designed to advance effective coastal and ocean management through regional ocean governance, including the goals for national ocean policy and comprehensive ocean planning set out in the president’s Final Recommendations of Interagency Ocean Policy Task Force, July 19, 2010 (the notice of availability of the Final Recommendations is published in the Federal Register at 75 FR 45606, August 3, 2010). The ROP program supports two categories of activities: 1) implementation of a spectrum of regional ocean partnership priorities, with a focus on marine planning activities and 2) support for development and operations for the ROP program.

With respect to regional ocean partnership priorities, the Office for Coastal Management manages the Gulf of Mexico Alliance (Alliance) grant program to engage in cooperative agreements with entities from Gulf of Mexico States to implement Action Blueprint Steps identified in the Gulf of Mexico Alliance Governors Action Plan. These projects contribute to the beneficial public outcomes associated with the five priority issues including water quality for healthy beaches and shellfish beds; wetland and coastal conservation and restoration; environmental education; identification and characterization of Gulf habitats; and nutrient reduction as well as Coastal Community Resiliency, a priority issue elevated by the Alliance since release of the Plan. The Office for Coastal Management – Pacific Islands, located in Honolulu, provides competitive grants through the Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Hawaii program to foster the development of innovative science programs, partnerships and products throughout the State of Hawaii, as well as support environmental education efforts that align with national and state education standards. B-WET Hawaii projects focus on providing meaningful outdoor experiences for students and professional development opportunities for teachers that target understanding earth system sciences, hazards, community resilience, and climate change. The Office for Coastal Management – Pacific Islands manages the Coastal Resilience Networks grant program to implement activities that enhance resilience of coastal communities to natural hazard and climate risks through a regional or national network. Coastal Resilience Networks (CRest) proposals must leverage, enhance, or create a system in which one or more coastal hazard issues can be addressed through partnerships to improve coordination and collaboration throughout the region. Partnerships must include multiple institutions, disciplines, and sectors at the local, state, and federal levels.

Eligibility Requirements (080)

Applicant Eligibility (081):

Institutions of higher educations, hospitals, other nonprofits, commercial organizations, foreign governments, organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign governments, international organizations, and state, local and Indian tribal governments.

Beneficiary Eligibility (082):

Institutions of higher educations, hospitals, other nonprofits, commercial organizations, foreign governments, organizations under the jurisdiction of foreign governments, international organizations, and state, local and Indian tribal governments.

Credentials/Documentation (083):

Proposals with statements of work and estimated budgets. Relevant OMB Cost Principles apply to this program. DOC has adopted the OMB Uniform Guidance codified at 2 C.F.R. Part 200, which includes relevant cost principles. OMB Circular No. A-87 applies to this program.

Application and Award Process (090)

Preapplication Coordination (091):

Preapplication coordination is required. An environmental impact assessment is required for this program. This program is eligible for coverage under E.O. 12372, "Intergovernmental Review of Federal Programs." An applicant should consult the office or official designated as the single point of contact in his or her State for more information on the process the State requires to be followed in applying for assistance, if the State has selected the program for review.

Application Procedures (092):

This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-102. This program is excluded from coverage under OMB Circular No. A-110. Proposals should be submitted through Grants.gov. Applicants will need to enter the Funding Opportunity and/or CFDA number to access the application package and instructions. Application packages will then be submitted directly to the applicable federal program. Proposals are subject to the requirements of 2 C.F.R. Part 200.

Award Procedure (093):

Awards are made on the basis of proposals evaluations, technical reviews and administrative reviews, if applicable.

Deadlines (094):

Contact the headquarters or regional office, as appropriate, for application deadlines.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time (095):

Not specified.

Appeals (096):

Not Applicable.

Renewals (097):

Extension requests will be considered by the federal program office only if the recipient has submitted all required performance reports. At least sixty days prior to the end of the award, recipients must discuss with their federal program officer expected reprogramming and extensions requests. After preliminary negotiation on proposed projects and extensions, formal written reprogramming and extension requests should be received by the federal program office 45 days prior to the end date of the award. The federal program office will not recommend approval for any retroactive extension request (received after the end date of the award). Recipients should make every effort to submit one extension request for all projects needing an extension (when possible, multiple extension requests should be avoided). With sufficient justification, the federal program office will recommend approval of a six-month extension for the first extension request. First time or cumulative extension requests for more than six months but less than 12 months, will need more compelling justification as to why the project was not completed on time or could not be completed within the first six-month extension. Although the federal program office discourages extensions of more than 12 months, the federal program office will recommend approval in cases where the funds are already obligated. Renewal of an award to increase funding or extend the period of performance is at the total discretion of the Department.

Assistance Consideration (100)

Formula and Matching Requirements (101):

This program has no statutory formula.
Matching requirements are not applicable to this program.
This program does not have MOE requirements.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance (102):

1-3 years with funding approved annually on individual and group proposals. See the following for information on how assistance is awarded/released: Funds are released as agreed to in the Standard Terms and Conditions document required for each grant.

Post Assistance Requirements (110)

Reports (111):

Financial and Performance Progress Reports are required semi-annually. Final financial and progress reports are required within 90 days of the end of the period of performance. Inventories of equipment and supplies are required at least once every two years. Cash reports are not applicable. Financial and Performance Progress Reports are required semi-annually. Final financial and progress reports are required within 90 days of the end of the period of performance. Inventories of equipment and supplies are required at least once every two years. Financial Status Reports are required semi-annually. Performance Reports are required semi-annually.

Audits (112):

In accordance with the provisions of OMB Circular No. A-133 (Revised, June 27, 2003), "Audits of States, Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations," nonfederal entities that expend financial assistance of $500,000 or more in Federal awards will have a single or a program-specific audit conducted for that year. Nonfederal entities that expend less than $500,000 a year in Federal awards are exempt from Federal audit requirements for that year, except as noted in Circular No. A-133. A non-Federal entity that expends $750,000 or more during the non-Federal entity’s fiscal year in Federal awards must have a single or program-specific audit conducted for that year in accordance with the provisions of the OMB Uniform Guidance (see Subpart F to 2 C.F.R. Part 200).

Records (113):

All financial and programmatic records, supporting documents, statistical reports, and other records of grantees or sub grantees are required to be maintained by the terms of the agreement. Each non-Federal entity must retain records for three years from the date when the Final expenditure report is submitted.

Will vary depending on when announcements are published. Contact the relevant federal program for details.

Program Accomplishments (130):

Fiscal Year 2014: The CSC Pacific Services Center (PSC), located in Honolulu, continued to provide competitive grants through the Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Hawaii program to foster the development of innovative science programs, partnerships and products throughout the State of Hawaii, as well as support environmental education efforts that align with national and state education standards. B-WET The Pacific Services Center continued to provide Coastal Resilience Networks (CRest) financial assistance to leverage, enhance, or create a system in which one or more coastal hazard issues can be addressed through partnerships to improve coordination and collaboration throughout the region. Fiscal Year 2015: No current data available. Fiscal Year 2016: No current data available.

Fiscal Year 2014: No Current Data Available Fiscal Year 2015: The Office for Coastal Management – Pacific Islands, is planning to provide competitive grants through the Bay Watershed Education and Training (B-WET) Hawaii program to foster the development of innovative science programs, partnerships and products throughout the State of Hawaii, as well as support environmental education efforts that align with national and state education standards (subject to the availability of funding).

The Office for Coastal Management is planning to manage a Regional Resilience Grant Program to implement activities that enhance resilience of coastal communities to natural hazard and climate risks through a regional or national network . FY15 Appropriation has provided $4,600,000 for Regional Coastal Resilience Grants. Fiscal Year 2016: No Current Data Available

Criteria for Selecting Proposals (180):

Proposals are subject to office evaluations, technical reviews, administrative reviews, and externals reviews, if applicable, taking into consideration primarily scientific merit and application to the goals of NOAA and the relevant federal program office.